Rats can be a property, block or neighborhood problem and require a coordinated response: property owners, tenants, businesses and government need to work together. Everyone has a part to play.
- Property owners and businesses must maintain their garbage—the number one source for rats to get their essential food—in containers that are rodent-proof until it's picked up.
- Tenants must do the same in the houses and apartments, and also ensure that they do not litter their yards or the street.
Do you want to learn more about rats? Click here to go to the new Rat Information Portal. The Rat Information Portal allows you as a New York City resident to learn about what you can do to control rats on properties you own, manage, or live in.
About Pest Control Services
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Pest Control Services (PCS) program works to reduce the presence of rats in New York City. PCS operates out of six regional offices in the five boroughs. PCS responds to complaints about rats, conducts inspections, and may apply rat bait (rodenticide) or clean up properties when owners fail to act. As part of an overall integrated pest management approach, PCS works with 19 other agencies to coordinate the City's response to rats in New York City.
Rat Control Efforts – New Approaches
In December 2007, the Health Department started a new program to control rats in the Bronx. This program uses an inspectional process called “Rat Indexing” to proactively identify the presence of rats in neighborhoods, and to compare the severity of infestations among blocks and neighborhoods. This program also provides more detailed inspection findings and advice to property owners on how to correct conditions. The results of these efforts are being carefully evaluated. In addition, the Health Department is collaborating with multiple key city agencies on piloting new rodent abatement strategies.
